Wire-stretcher.



N0". 769,878. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

- N. H. STURGIS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1903.

NO MODEL.

Patented September 13, 1904.

lJNrrED STATES PATENT Orrics.

NELSON H. STURGIS, OF GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,878, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed January 12, 1903. Serial No- 138,'779. (No model.)

To all whom i/- may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON H. STURGIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Guthrie, in the county of Logan, Oklahoma Territory, have invented a new and useful ire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire-stretchers and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one of great strength and durability designed for stretching either a single wire or anumber of wires simultaneously and adapted after a wire or wires have been stretched to hold the same while they are being stapled or otherwise secured to a fence-post.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for independently gripping fencewires, so that after a plurality of wires have been stretched one may be released or detached without disengaging the others.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details maybe made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the present invention applied in position for use. Fig. 2 is adetail perspective view of the wire-clamp. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalview thereof. Fig. A is a crosssectional view on the line 1 4 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring at first more particularly to Figs. 2 to 4:, inclusive, it will be seen that the present wire-clamp embodies a shank 1, which is provided at its forward end with a laterallyenlarged head 2, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are toothed or serrated, as at 3. The rear end of the shank is gradually enlarged and is provided with a terminal laterally-reduced hook 1, the rear extremity of the shank being provided with rounded recesses or seats 5 at opposite sides of the base of the hook. In front of the book there is an opening 6 formed through the shank. At that side of the shank upon which the hook lies is a plate 7, which is secured transversely across the head by means of screw-threaded fastenings 8, the opposite ends of the plate being projected beyond the longitudinal sides of the head and then flanged over toward and terminated short of the adjacent edges of the head, so as to form sockets 9, which are open at their front and rear ends. Within each of the sockets 9 is a wedge or key 10, which is provided at its forward end with a head 11, which extends at substantially right angles to the plane of the two keys or wedges, the rear enlarged end of the wedge or key being provided with a lateral outwardly-directed shoulder 12, which projects beyond the outer side of the adjacent socket. The wire 13 to be stretched is received between one of the wedges or keys and the adjacent toothed edge of the head 2, after which the key is driven forwardly by striking against the forward end thereof or against the shoulder 12,

so as to wedge or grip the wire between the key and the shoulder formed by the head 2. To release the wire, the key is of course driven rearwardly. Total displacement of the key is prevented by the head 11 and the shoulder 12. While not absolutely necessary, it is preferred to form a longitudinal groove 14 in the inner edge of the wedge or key for the reception of the wire. Of the two wires shown in the drawings each is gripped independently of the other and may therefore be released without interfering with the other wire, and although only one wire has been shown for each wedge it will of course be understood that a plurality of wires may be held by each of the wedges. stretching the wires after the clamp has been applied thereto there has been provided a lever 15, which is provided in its back edge with a notch or seat 16 and at its forward end with a tooth or prong 17, projected laterally in advance of the front edge of the lever. To

For 7 chain 18, the forward link 19 of which is engaged with the terminal hook 40f the clamp.

I A ring 20 loosely receives the chain, and the rear end of the latter is provided with a hook 21, which it engaged with any one of the links of the chain, so as to hold the ring in the loop formed thereby. This ring 20 is of a size to fit over the forward end of the lever and be received ingthe notch or seat 16, so that by swinging the rear end of the lever in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 the clamp may be drawn rearwardly to stretch the wire or Wires. Although two wires have been shown, it will of course be understood that the device may be employed to stretch a single wire, and it is therefore an advantageous feature of the present invention in that the clamp is adapted for connection with one or more wires, as may be desired. After the fence-wires have been stretched to the desired tension the device is held by a dog 22 while the wires are being stapled or otherwise secured to a fence-post. The dog 22 is pivotally or hingedly connected to the lever adjacent to the engaging end thereof, and it is adapted to extend'from the lever at an angle and engage the post to form a brace for holding the lever in its adjusted position.

The device, which when used in connection with the chain and the lever, forms a complete wire-stretcher; but it is also adapted to be used independently thereof and to be applied to any ordinary wire-stretcher.

The device may be used in the construction of all kinds of wire fences, and wire stays may be applied to single fence-wires and wooden stays may be woven into the fence when the wires or runners are arranged in pairs. In constructing a fence of this character a suitable gage will be employed.

What is claimed is-- 1. A wire-clamp, comprising a shank having its forward end provided with a longitudinal laterally-enlarged head having its opposite longitudinal edges serrated, longitudinal seats at opposite sides of the head with their inner sides open to the corresponding edges of the head and their opposite ends also open, and wedges working in the respective seats with their opposite ends projected outwardly through the open ends of the seats.

2. A wire-clamp, comprising a shank having its forward end provided with a longitudinal laterally-enlarged head having its opposite longitudinal edges serrated, a plate'secured to one side of the head and projected beyond the opposite longitudinal edges thereof with its opposite ends provided with inwardly-directed flanges overlapping the plate and forming seats which are open at their inner sides to the corresponding edges of the head and are also open at opposite ends, and wedges working in the seats and cooperating with the respective edges of the heads.

3. A wire-clamp comprising a shank provided with opposite engaging longitudinal edges, longitudinal seats at opposite sides of the said shank with their inner sides open to the corresponding edges of the same and their opposite ends also open, and wedges working in and extending entirely through the seats and cooperating with the engaging edges of the shank, substantially as described.

4. A'wire-clamp embodying a shank having its forward end" provided with a laterally-enlarged longitudinal head, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are serrated, a plate secured to one side of the head and projected beyond its longitudinal edges, the ends of the plate being provided with flanges overhanging the plate and terminated short of the adjacent edges of the head, and wedges working in the seats formed between the plate and the overhanging flanges, the forward end of each wedge being provided with a transverse head, and its rear end provided with a lateral outwardly-directed shoulder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NELSON H. STURGIS.

Witnesses: J. B. DOBSON, WM. 0. KING. 

